Fancy footwork: Wooster soccer star Scheine scoring goals in bunches

Wooster's Kyle Scheine blasts a shot in a match against Harvey School Wednesday at Wooster School in Danbury.

Wooster's Kyle Scheine blasts a shot in a match against Harvey School Wednesday at Wooster School in Danbury.

Photo: Barry Horn

Photo: Barry Horn

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Wooster's Kyle Scheine blasts a shot in a match against Harvey School Wednesday at Wooster School in Danbury.

Wooster's Kyle Scheine blasts a shot in a match against Harvey School Wednesday at Wooster School in Danbury.

Photo: Barry Horn

Fancy footwork: Wooster soccer star Scheine scoring goals in bunches

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DANBURY -- Perhaps the best way convey how dominant Wooster School soccer player Kyle Scheine has been so far this season is to say that in the Generals' loss on Wednesday to the Harvey School, the senior forward "only" took nine shots and put six of them on goal.

In the Generals' 2-0 loss -- their first league loss of the season -- Scheine was held scoreless for the first time all season.

"I've been expecting at least a couple each game," he said.

Given his performance this season, it's a reasonable expectation to have. Entering the game, he had scored a total of 17 goals in seven games, scoring three goals in a game five different times.

Added coach Dan Levy, "Everyone knows every time they get the ball up to him that he's going to do something with it."

Scheine is, in many ways, an unlikely star. He is skinny and, according to him, "5-foot-5 on a good day." He does not possess game-changing speed or an array of confounding hesitation moves and elaborate dribbles. Instead, he relies on well-timed runs, expert body positioning, and a powerful shot that he can deliver with little separation.

"Last year we had him at central midfielder," said Sturgeon. "Right before this season started we decided to move him up top. We were hoping for some goals, but not this type of an explosion."

Said Levy, "He's got the biggest heart out there. Any ball he can get to, he gets to."

Then, Levy looked directly at Scheine and added with a smile, "And usually he finishes them."

Harvey frequently double-teamed Scheine on Wednesday, often trailing him with a third defender. Late in the second half, he drew a penalty kick, but had it blocked by Harvey goalkeeper A.J. Bass. Scheine got the rebound, but Bass blocked that, too.

"He's everywhere," said Bass afterward. "He got to every ball, caused a lot of pressure. He's not the biggest kid, but he's quick."

Bass and Harvey coach Alex Morse said that they spent the last few practices preparing to stop Scheine specifically.

"We tried to limit his touches," said Morse. "We shifted our defensive alignment to play him."

Last season Scheine, who lives in Chappaqua, N.Y., and commutes 30 minutes to Danbury each morning, was named to both the Connecticut All-State team and the HVAL All-Stars.

He has played soccer since he was 4, and for the last few years he played on a club team, though he decided not to this year so he could focus on making his college decision. Scheine said he's looking at both Miami University (Ohio) and the University of Vermont, and would like to play soccer in college after spending his freshman year putting on weight.

For now, Scheine is aiming to lead Wooster to one of the top two seeds in the New England tournament and a successful run thereafter.

"I know the whole team looks to me and I know I've got to step up," he said.